Method and apparatus for LED transition from physical to virtual space

ABSTRACT

An electronic device comprising a touchscreen and an LED may be operable to illuminate the LED in response to an event occurring on the electronic device. In response to an input from a user of the electronic device, the electronic device may display on the touchscreen an animation of a graphical representation of the LED moving onto the touchscreen to a target location on the touchscreen. During the animation, the graphical representation of the LED may be the only thing displayed on the touchscreen. The graphical representation of the LED may be the same color as the LED. A color of the LED may correspond to a contact stored on the phone that is associated with the event.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Certain embodiments of the present method and apparatus relate toelectronic devices. More specifically, certain embodiments relate to LEDtransitions from physical to virtual space.

BACKGROUND

User notifications on conventional electronic devices can be toouser-intensive and consume too much power. Further limitations anddisadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will becomeapparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systemswith some aspects of the present disclosure as set forth in theremainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A system and/or method is provided for LED transition from physical tovirtual space, substantially as illustrated by and/or described inconnection with at least one of the figures, as set forth morecompletely in the claims.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentdisclosure, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof,will be more fully understood from the following description anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a block diagram illustrating an electronic device that isoperable to perform LED transitions from physical to virtual space, inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps performed by anelectronic device transitioning an LED from physical to virtual space.

FIGS. 3A-3F depict various states of an electronic device that supportsLED transitions from physical to virtual space.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps performed by anelectronic device transitioning an LED from physical to virtual space.

FIGS. 5A-5F depict various states of an electronic device that supportsLED transitions from physical to virtual space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and “circuitry” refer tophysical electronic components (i.e. hardware) and any software and/orfirmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executed by thehardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As utilizedherein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joinedby “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of thethree-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example, “x, y, and/orz” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y),(x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As utilized herein, the terms “block” and“module” refer to functions than can be performed by one or morecircuits. As utilized herein, the term “exemplary” means serving as anon-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As utilized herein, theterm “e.g.,” introduces a list of one or more non-limiting examples,instances, or illustrations.

FIG. 1 a block diagram illustrating an electronic device that isoperable to perform LED transitions from physical to virtual space, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present method and/or apparatus.Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an electronic device 100 comprisinga main processing module 102, a system memory module 104, a signalprocessing module 110, a wired front-end (FE) module 112, a wirelessfront-end (FE) module 114, a plurality of antennas 116A-116N, and aninput/output (I/O) subsystem 130. The electronic device 100 may be, forexample, a mobile phone, a tablet, or a laptop computer.

The main processor module 102 may be operable to process data, and/orcontrol and/or manage operations of the electronic device 100, and/ortasks and/or applications performed therein. In this regard, the mainprocessor 102 may be operable to configure and/or control operations ofvarious components and/or subsystems of the electronic device 100, byutilizing, for example, one or more control signals. The main processor102 may enable execution of applications, programs and/or code, whichmay be, for example, stored in the system memory 104.

The system memory 104 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interfaces, and/or code that may enable volatile and/or non-volatilestorage, buffering, and/or fetching of data, code and/or otherinformation, which may be used, consumed, and/or processed. In thisregard, the system memory 104 may comprise different memorytechnologies, including, for example, read-only memory (ROM), randomaccess memory (RAM), Flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD), and/orfield-programmable gate array (FPGA). The system memory 104 may store,for example, configuration data, program code, and/or run-time data.

The wired FE 112 may be operable to perform various functions forwireline communication over supported physical wired media in accordancewith one or more wireline protocols (e.g. Ethernet and/or USB).Functions performed by the wired FE 112 may include, for example:amplification, frequency conversion, filtering, digital-to-analogconversion, and/or analog-to-digital conversion.

The wireless FE 114 may be operable to perform various functions forwirelessly communicating via the antennas 116A-116N in accordance withone or more wireless protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi and/or cellular). Functionsperformed by the wireless FE 114 may include, for example:amplification, frequency conversion, filtering, digital-to-analogconversion, and/or analog-to-digital conversion.

The signal-processing module 110 may be operable to process signalstransmitted and/or received by the electronic device 100, in accordancewith one or more wired or wireless protocols. The signal-processingmodule 110 may be operable to perform such signal processing operationas, for example, filtering, encoding/decoding, encryption/decryption,and/or modulation/demodulation.

The input/output (I/O) subsystem 130 may enable a user to interact withthe electronic device 100. In this regard, the I/O subsystem 130 maysupport various types of inputs and/or outputs, including video, audio,and/or text. I/O devices and/or components, external or internal, may beutilized for inputting and/or outputting data during operations of theI/O subsystem 130. The I/O subsystem may comprise, for example, atouchscreen 132, one or more physical (“hard”) controls 134, and one ormore LEDs 136.

The touchscreen 132 may comprise, for example, a liquid crystal displaycapable of displaying graphical elements that a user can interact withby touching them with a finger or a stylus. The touchscreen 132 may be,for example, a resistive, capacitive, surface wave, or infraredtouchscreen.

The control(s) 134 may comprise, for example, a multi-function switch orbutton. For example, holding down the button for a longer period of timemay power the electronic device 100 on and off whereas short presses ofthe button may turn the touchscreen 132 on and off.

The LED(s) 136 may enable the device to visually alert a user of theelectronic device 100 without turning on the touchscreen 132. Forexample, the LED(s) may comprise one or more light-emitting-diode (LED).In such an embodiment, the LED may comprise a plurality of LEDs of oneor more colors and/or may comprise a multi-color LED.

In operation, the main processor 102, the system memory 104, and the I/Osubsystem 130 may interoperate to interface with a user and to send andreceive communications via the wired FE 112 and/or the wireless FE 114.For example, in response to an event (e.g., reception of acommunication, input from a user, an alarm, and/or a change in status orcondition of the electronic device 100 and/or one or more of itscomponents), the main processor 102 may execute one or more lines ofcode stored in the memory 104, and generate data to be transmitted viathe wireless FE 114 and/or presented to a user via the I/O subsystem130. For example, receipt of an email, receipt of a voicemail, receiptof an SMS or MMS message, or occurrence of a calendar reminder, maytrigger the processor 102 to execute code which implements an algorithmsuch as the ones described below with respect to FIGS. 2-5.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps performed by anelectronic device transitioning an LED from physical to virtual space.The exemplary steps are described with reference to FIGS. 3A-3F. Thesteps begin with step 202 in which the electronic device 100 is poweredon.

In step 204, the touchscreen 132 is powered off. This may occur, forexample, as a result of a timeout or a user pressing the button 134.Powering off the touchscreen may save power and/or prevent inadvertentinput to the touchscreen (e.g., while the electronic device 100 is inthe user's pocket). FIG. 3A depicts the device 100 with the touchscreenpowered-off.

In step 206, an event occurs causing the LED to light up. This isdepicted in FIG. 3B by the notification element 136 transitioning fromwhite to black. The event may be, for example, a missed call, receipt ofan email, receipt of a voicemail, receipt of an SMS or MMS message, or acalendar reminder. Illuminating the LED 136 may be a low-power way tonotify the user of occurrence of the event as compared, for example, toturning on the touchscreen 132.

In one embodiment, characteristics of the illuminated LED may indicate acontact (e.g., name, phone number, and/or email address) and/orapplication (or operating system (OS) component) associated with theevent. The characteristics may include, for example, color and/orintensity of the LED 136, and/or the frequency at which the LED 136blinks. For example, a text message from J. Doe may cause the LED 136 tobe steady red, a missed call from J. Doe may cause the LED to blink red,a text message from B. Smith may cause the LED 136 to be steady blue,and a missed call from B. Smith may cause the LED to blink blue.

The color associated with a particular contact may be assigned by theuser and/or may be automatically assigned according to an algorithmimplemented by the processor 102 (e.g., a contact may be assigned acolors based on frequency of events associated with that contact and/oruser input such as a priority level of that contact). Where the colorsare automatically assigned, repeated use of a particular color for aparticular contact will enable the user to learn which color isassociated with which contact. In this regard, the electronic device 100may be operable to automatically analyze (e.g., via main processor 102)communications conducted via the electronic device 100, and mayadaptively assign colors to contacts which may be determined to be mostimportant to the user. The analysis and/or color-to-contact assignmentmay be based on a range of various parameters, which may comprise, forexample, frequency of communication, known relationships, content ofprevious communications, and/or times of various communications.

Such adaptive and/or automatic analysis, the ability to learn thevarying degree of importance of existing contacts, and/or assign colorbased thereon may be desirable since there is finite number of uniquelyrecognizable colors, and when users have a large number of contacts, itwould optimal to that the most important contacts be assigned availablecolors at the expense of less important contacts. Transitioning the LEDfrom physical to virtual space, as described below, will furthersolidify this association of color and contact in the user's mind.Accordingly, over time, a user will come to know which contact and/orapplication/OS component has triggered the event simply by looking atthe characteristics of the LED 136.

In step 208, the user presses the button 134 in response to seeing theilluminated LED 136. In response, the processor 102 may execute codestored in the memory 104 which causes the touchscreen 132 to display ananimation of a graphical representation of the LED 136 moving onto thetouchscreen 132 and to a target location. The target location 304 may bedetermined based, for example, on a contact associated with the event,an application and/or OS component associated with the event, userpreferences, a number of notifications pending, and/or other suitableconsiderations. This is depicted in FIG. 3C which shows a graphicalrepresentation of the LED moving onto the touchscreen at location 302and moving to target location 304, as represented by the arrow 306. Thephysical LED 136 may stay illuminated as the graphical representation ofit moves across the touchscreen or may turn off as the graphicalrepresentation of the LED moves onto the touchscreen (“i.e. enters fromthe edge of the touchscreen”) to give a visual impression that the LEDhas physically moved to the target location 304. Accordingly, thegraphical representation of the LED may have characteristics (e.g.,size, shape, and color) of the LED 136. The graphical representation mayalso take on different characteristics. For example, during and/or aftermoving to the target location 304, the graphical representation of theLED may change characteristics such as size, shape, color, intensity,etc. In one embodiment, a device may comprise a plurality of screens,and the animation may be displayed on one or more of the screens. Forexample, the graphical representation of the LED may traverse a firstscreen in traveling to a target point on a second screen.

In step 210, other graphical elements may appear (e.g., fade in) on thetouchscreen 132. Thus, in this embodiment, no other graphical elementsmay be displayed on the touchscreen 132 while the animation is inprogress (i.e., the rest of the screen may remain black during theanimation). In another embodiment, the other graphical elements mayappear (perhaps dimly) before the animation, and the animation may thenbe overlaid onto the displayed graphical elements. These graphicalelements could include icons that launch applications/OS components,informational elements (e.g., “gadgets”), status indicators, etc.

In one embodiment, the target location 304 may coincide with one ofthese graphical elements (e.g., an application icon) that a user mayinteract with via a finger or stylus gesture. For example, the iconwhich coincides with the target location 304 may be selected (and thecorresponding application/OS component launched) by swiping along thepath that was traced by the graphical representation of the LED. Thatis, the animation provides a graphical cue of the input that the usershould provide in order to act upon the notification (e.g. to obtainfurther details about the event that caused the LED 136 to light up).

Thus, in step 212 when the user swipes (as indicated by arrow 310) alongthe path traced by the graphical representation of the LED (as shown inFIG. 3E), the electronic device launches the notifications managementapplication (which could be, for example, an application or OScomponent) (screenshot 314A of the notifications management applicationis shown in FIG. 3F). In one embodiment, the notifications managementapplication/OS component displays graphical elements 312 next tocontacts associated with pending notifications. These graphical elementsmay be color coded to indicate the color associated with that contact.That is, the graphical element 312A indicates a color associated with J.Doe and the graphical element 312B indicates a color associated with B.Smith. Thus, the color of the LED will be the color of the graphicalelement 312A when J. Doe is associated with the event that triggered theLED to light up, and the color of the LED will be the color of thegraphical element 312B when B. Smith is associated with the event thattriggered the LED to light-up.

Although FIG. 2 depicts launching a notifications managementapplication/component in response to the user tracing the path followedby the graphical representation of the LED, other applications couldalternatively or additionally be launched. For example, if thenotification was generated as the result of a received voicemail, avoicemail application or OS component may be launched. Furthermore,which application and/or OS components launches in response to the userinput may depend on the number and/or type of notifications pending. Anexample would be as follows. If the only notifications associated with asingle application or OS component (e.g., email) are pending, inputtingthe gesture indicated by the animation may launch that application or OScomponent. If notifications of more than one type are pending (e.g., anemail and a voicemail) then inputting the gesture indicated by theanimation may launch the notifications management application or OScomponent.

Additionally or alternatively, which application and/or OS componentlaunches may depend on when the user responds to the notification. Insuch an implementation, the touchscreen 132 may power on, and theanimation may be displayed, upon the event occurring. The touchscreen132 may then turn off after a timeout. The animation may not bedisplayed again until after the user presses the button 134. If the usertraces the animation path before the timeout a first application and/orOS component may be launched. If the timeout occurs, however, and theuser then presses the button 134 to view the animation, a differentapplication and/or OS component may be launched. For example, the eventmay be receipt of a text message. If the user input occurs before thetimeout, the text messaging application may be launched. If the timeoutoccurs, however, and the animation is replayed in response a press ofbutton 134, then the user input may cause the notifications managementapplication/component to launch.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps performed by anelectronic device transitioning an LED from physical to virtual space.The exemplary steps are described with reference to FIGS. 5A-5F.

The steps 402-410 are substantially similar to the steps 202-210, andsimilarly begin with step 402 in which the electronic device 100 ispowered on. The corresponding FIGS. 5A-5D, however, depict an electronicdevice which has its LED 136 at the top left, rather than bottom centerof the touchscreen 132. Accordingly, in step 408, when the user pressesthe button 134 in response to seeing the illuminated LED 136, theprocessor 102 may similarly execute code stored in the memory 104 whichcauses the touchscreen 132 to display an animation of a graphicalrepresentation of the LED 136 moving onto the touchscreen 132 and to atarget location, as depicted by FIG. 5C. However, as opposed to theembodiment in FIG. 3C where the graphical representation moved onto thescreen from the location 302 at the bottom center edge of thetouchscreen 132, in FIG. 5C the LED 136 moves onto the touchscreen 136from location 502 at the top left edge of the touchscreen 132. FIG. 5Calso differs in that the target location 504 differs from the targetlocation 304. FIGS. 3C and 5C provide just two examples of pathstraversed by the graphical representation of the LED. In practice, thegraphical representation of the LED could move from a LED at anyphysical location to any target location on the touchscreen 132. Thelocation of the LED on any particular device may be configured via, forexample, an application programming interface (API). The location may bespecified, for example, in screen pixel coordinates.

FIG. 5D differs from FIG. 5C in that the graphic element 508A shown inFIG. 5D comprises information about the event that caused the LED tolight up. The graphical element 508A comprises a graphical element 508Bwhich is substantially similar to the graphical elements 312A and 312Bdescribed with respect to FIG. 3F. The graphical element 508A alsocomprises a graphical element 508C which a user may interact with tolaunch the notifications management application.

Thus, in step 412, the user drags down the graphical element 508C (asindicated by arrow 510) to launch the notifications managementapplication. In some instances, the user may also just interact directlywith the application creating the notification, such as by responding toa text message, for example. Screenshot 512 of the notificationsmanagement application/OS component is shown in FIG. 5F and issubstantially similar to the screenshot 314A described with respect toFIG. 3F.

In accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, anelectronic device 100 comprising a touchscreen 132 and a light emittingdiode (LED) 136 may be operable to illuminate the LED 136 in response toan event occurring on the electronic device 100. The electronic device100 may be operable to display an animation of a graphicalrepresentation of the LED (e.g., representation 302 or 502) moving ontothe touchscreen 132 to a target location (e.g., location 304 or 504) onthe touchscreen 132. The electronic device 100 may be operable to detectan input from a user at or proximate (e.g., within a threshold number ofpixels or threshold number of touch sensors) to the target location. Inresponse to the detection of the input from the user, the electronicdevice 100 may be operable to display information pertaining to theevent. One or more characteristics of the graphical representation ofthe LED may indicate a contact associated with the event. Examples ofsuch characteristics of the graphical representation of the LEDcomprise: color of the graphical representation of the LED, size of thegraphical representation of the LED, and shape of the graphicalrepresentation of the LED.

In accordance with various aspects of the present method and apparatus,an electronic device 100 comprising a touchscreen 132 and a lightemitting diode (LED) 136 may be operable to illuminate the LED 136 inresponse to an event occurring on the electronic device 100. In responseto an input from a user of the electronic device 100, the electronicdevice 100 may display on the touchscreen 132 an animation of agraphical representation of the LED moving onto the touchscreen 132 to atarget location on the touchscreen 132. During the animation, thegraphical representation of the LED may be the only thing displayed onthe touchscreen. The electronic device 100 may, subsequent to theanimation, display additional graphical elements (e.g., graphic elements308A-308E) on the touchscreen 132 while continuing to display thegraphical representation of the LED at the target location.

The electronic device may, subsequent to the animation, display agraphical element (e.g., 508C) on the touchscreen 132 that, when draggedby a user, brings up an application or OS component on the touchscreen132. The application or OS component may be a notifications managementapplication/component. The target location may be next to an avatar of acontact stored on the electronic device. A path traversed by thegraphical representation of the LED during the animation may correspondsto a touchscreen gesture that, when performed by a user of theelectronic device, brings up an application or OS component (e.g.,notifications management application/component) on the touchscreen. Thegraphical representation of the LED may be the same color as the LED. Acolor of the LED may correspond to a contact stored on the phone that isassociated with the event.

Other embodiments of the present method and apparatus may provide anon-transitory computer readable medium and/or storage medium, and/or anon-transitory machine readable medium and/or storage medium, havingstored thereon, a machine code and/or a computer program having at leastone code section executable by a machine and/or a computer, therebycausing the machine and/or computer to perform the steps as describedherein for LED Transition From Physical to Virtual Space

Accordingly, the present method and apparatus may be realized inhardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Thepresent method and apparatus may be realized in a centralized fashion inat least one computing system, or in a distributed fashion wheredifferent elements are spread across several interconnected computingsystems. Any kind of computing system or other apparatus adapted forcarrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typicalcombination of hardware and software may be a general-purpose computingsystem with a program or other code that, when being loaded andexecuted, controls the computing system such that it carries out themethods described herein. Another typical implementation may comprise anapplication specific integrated circuit or chip.

The present method and apparatus may also be embedded in a computerprogram product, which comprises all the features enabling theimplementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded ina computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer programin the present context means any expression, in any language, code ornotation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having aninformation processing capability to perform a particular functioneither directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversionto another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a differentmaterial form.

While the present method and apparatus has been described with referenceto certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substitutedwithout departing from the scope of the present method and apparatus. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departingfrom its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present method andapparatus not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, butthat the present method and apparatus will include all embodimentsfalling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method comprising: performing by an electronic device comprising atouchscreen and a light emitting diode (LED) located outside thetouchscreen: illuminating the LED in response to an event occurring onthe electronic device; displaying an animation of a graphicalrepresentation of the LED entering the touchscreen from the edge of thetouchscreen at a location next to the LED and moving to a targetlocation on the touchscreen, wherein the target location coincides witha graphical element displayed on the touchscreen; detecting an inputfrom a user at or proximate to the target location; and in response tothe detection of the input from the user, displaying informationpertaining to the event, wherein one or more characteristics of thegraphical representation of the LED indicate a contact associated withthe event, and wherein one or more of the characteristics of thegraphical representation of the LED match one or more characteristics ofthe LED.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristics of thegraphical representation of the LED comprise one or more of: color ofthe graphical representation of the LED; size of the graphicalrepresentation of the LED; shape of the graphical representation of theLED.
 3. A method comprising: performing by an electronic devicecomprising a touchscreen and a light emitting diode (LED) locatedoutside the touchscreen: illuminating the LED in response to an eventoccurring on the electronic device; detecting an input from a user ofthe electronic device; in response to the detection of the input fromthe user, displaying an animation of a graphical representation of theLED entering the touchscreen from the edge of the touchscreen at alocation next to the LED and moving to a target location on thetouchscreen, wherein the target location coincides with a graphicalelement displayed on the touchscreen; and wherein the graphicalrepresentation of the LED shares a characteristic with the LED.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein, during the animation, the touchscreen isblank other than the graphical representation of the LED.
 5. The methodof claim 4, comprising, subsequent to the animation, displayingadditional graphical elements on the touchscreen while continuing todisplay the graphical representation of the LED at the target location.6. The method of claim 3, wherein the graphical element displayed on thetouchscreen is an icon that, when interacted with by a user, brings upan application or operating system component on the touchscreen.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the application or operating system componentis a notifications management application or notifications managementoperating system component.
 8. The method of claim 3, wherein the targetlocation is proximate to an avatar of a contact stored on the electronicdevice.
 9. The method of claim 3, wherein a path traversed by thegraphical representation of the LED during the animation corresponds toa touchscreen gesture that, when performed by a user of the electronicdevice, brings up an application or operating system component on thetouchscreen.
 10. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or morecharacteristics of the graphical representation that match one or morecharacteristics of the LED include color.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein a color of the LED indicates a contact stored on the electronicdevice that is associated with the event.
 12. A system comprising: anelectronic device comprising a touchscreen and a light emitting diode(LED) located outside the touchscreen, the electronic device beingoperable to: illuminate the LED in response to an event occurring on theelectronic device; detect an input from a user of the electronic device;in response to the detection of the input from the user, display ananimation of a graphical representation of the LED entering thetouchscreen from the edge of the touchscreen at a location next to theLED and moving to a target location on the touchscreen, wherein thetarget location coincides with a graphical element displayed on thetouchscreen; and wherein the graphical representation of the LED sharesa characteristic with the LED.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein,during the animation, the touchscreen is blank other than the graphicalrepresentation of the LED.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein theelectronic device is operable to, subsequent to the animation, displayadditional graphical elements on the touchscreen while continuing todisplay the graphical representation of the LED at the target location.15. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphical element displayed onthe touchscreen is an icon that, when interacted with by a user, bringsup an application or operating system component on the touchscreen. 16.The system of claim 15, wherein the application or operating systemcomponent is a notifications management application or operating systemcomponent.
 17. The system of claim 12, wherein the target location isnext to an avatar of a contact stored on the electronic device.
 18. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein a path traversed by the graphicalrepresentation of the LED during the animation corresponds to atouchscreen gesture that, when performed by a user of the electronicdevice, causes the electronic device to bring up an application oroperating system component on the touchscreen.
 19. The system of claim12, wherein the one or more characteristics of the graphicalrepresentation that match one or more characteristics of the LED includecolor.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein a color of the LEDcorresponds to a contact stored on the electronic device that isassociated with the event.